KAJO 99.7FM - Local News

Deputies Jailed Wolf Creek Woman on Local Felony Warrant after Investigation

The Josephine County Sheriff's Office jailed a Wolf Creek woman on a local felony warrant yesterday. According to the Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested 27-year-old Tesla Elouise Jinks at a home in the 400-block of Warner Road on Tuesday at 12:40 p.m.. Deputies said Jinks was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for Parole Violation. They said a criminal investigation led them to that location. Tesla Jinks was transported to Grants Pass and lodged at the adult jail facility on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 10/25/23 11:35AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Snared Motorist for DUII after She Crashed Car into Parked Trailer

Grants Pass Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving after she crashed her car into a parked travel trailer on the west side of the city late yesterday. According to the Police Department, officers and emergency crews responded to the incident in the 2100-block of Shane Way on Tuesday at about 5:20 p.m.. Police said 43-year-old Breana Lee Verser was driving a Subaru sedan when she crashed into a 2022 Keystone Hideout travel trailer that was parked on the street. Upon contact with Verser, they said she displayed indicators of impairment and admitted to consuming alcoholic beverages before driving. Verser performed poorly in field sobriety tests, but no further testing was done due to reported physical limitations. A search warrant was obtained and she was taken to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that verified impairment. Breana Verser was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving. Her wrecked car was impounded. The amount of damage done to the travel trailer was not disclosed.

Posted on 10/25/23 11:34AM by Sam Marsh

OSP Nabbed Motorist for Impaired Driving after Traffic Stop on RR Highway

The Oregon State Police arrested a motorist for impaired driving late yesterday after a traffic stop on Rogue River Highway in southeast Grants Pass. According to OSP, troopers pulled over a Toyota Camry driven by 61-year-old Steven John Parman on Highway 99 near Fruitdale Drive at 5:43 p.m. Tuesday. Troopers said they stopped Parman for vehicle code violations and he exhibited signs of impairment. They said he was placed into custody after he performed poorly in field sobriety testing. Steven Parman was lodged at the Grants Pass Sobering Center for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and Reckless Driving. His car was impounded.

Posted on 10/25/23 11:33AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Collared Man on State Felony Warrant while Performing Welfare Check

Grants Pass Police apprehended a man wanted on a statewide felony warrant while performing a welfare check in the downtown area this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 32-year-old Timothy Rain Davis in the 900-block of SW 5th Street on Monday. Police said a resident in that area called 9-1-1 to report a man and woman who looked highly intoxicated. The caller said the pair were in the nook of the yellow building called The Club Burner and looked like they might be about to fall over. Upon arrival, officers contacted Davis and his female companion who was identified only as "Wilson," with drug paraphernalia scattered around them. Both were detained and the drug items were seized for destruction. A routine records check revealed that Davis was wanted on an Oregon Department of Corrections warrant out of Deer Ridge for a transitional leave violation. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail on a no-bail detainer.

Posted on 10/25/23 6:08AM by Sam Marsh

Man Wanted on Felony Warrant for Alleged Sex Crimes Surrendered to GP Police

A man wanted on a local felony warrant for alleged sex crimes turned himself in to the Grants Pass Police Department this week. The Police Department reports officers arrested 34-year-old William Arthur Way at GPPD headquarters on NE 7th Street on Monday night. Police said Way entered the lobby and surrendered himself on an active warrant. He was wanted on a Josephine County felony warrant for one count of 2nd-Degree Sex Abuse and two counts of 3rd-Degree Sex Abuse. William Way was placed into custody and lodged at the Josephine County Jail.

Posted on 10/25/23 6:02AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Incarcerated Man for Vandalizing Fountain at Downtown Parking Lot

Grants Pass Police arrested a man for vandalizing a fountain in a city-owned parking lot in the downtown area this week. According to the Police Department, officers responded to the incident at the Owl Parking Lot at the corner of SW 5th and H streets on Monday evening. Police said 29-year-old Jonathan Daniel Mahoney was observed in the fountain with large pieces of rock scattered around him. They said several witnesses stated the suspect was removing pieces from the fountain and causing damage. Mahoney was placed into custody and began yelling various curse words at officers, causing public alarm for nearby pedestrians. He was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Criminal Mischief and Disorderly Conduct.

Posted on 10/25/23 5:59AM by Sam Marsh

GP Police Arrested Woman for Trying to Swindle Walmart Out of Merchandise

Grants Pass Police arrested a woman for trying swindle Walmart out of several items this week. The Police Department reports officers were alerted to a shoplifting complaint involving 43-year-old Jamie Lynn Gallagher at the store on NE Terry Lane on Monday afternoon. Police said Walmart loss prevention called 9-1-1 to report Gallagher had switched tags on multiple items and filled her shopping cart before proceeding to the self-checkout. They said she scanned five items totaling just over $15, but passed all points of sale with 18 items totaling more than $127. Upon being placed into custody, Gallagher admitted to the attempted heist and knew that it was wrong -- but said she didn't have money to pay for the items. She was lodged at the Josephine County Jail for 2nd-Degree Theft.

Posted on 10/25/23 5:57AM by Sam Marsh

Trespassing Call in North GP Led to Arrest of Man for DUII and Outside Warrant

A trespassing complaint in north Grants Pass this week led to the arrest of a man for impaired driving and an out-of-county DUII warrant. Grants Pass Police pulled over a Toyota Tacoma driven by 45-year-old Matthew Nolan Foster at the Chevron station on NE 6th Street around 10 p.m. Monday. Police said Foster was called in as a trespasser who witnesses thought was impaired and associated with the Tacoma. As officers arrived on scene, they saw the suspect pull out of a parking lot and onto a public roadway. They pulled him over at the gas station and he displayed signs of being impaired. Foster reportedly refused to participate in field sobriety tests and requested an attorney, so a search warrant was obtained and he was transported to Three Rivers Medical Center for a legal blood draw that documented his impairment. Matthew Foster was placed into custody for Driving Under the Influence of Intoxicants as well as a Salem Police Department warrant for failing to appear in court for DUII. He was lodged in jail and the pickup was impounded.

Posted on 10/25/23 5:56AM by Sam Marsh

BCC Expected to Approve Library Annexations before Considering Two Orders

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve four library annexations before considering two administrative action items during its weekly business session this morning. The Board will open the meeting with a public hearing on the four annexations to the Josephine Community Library District that are by petition of the landowners. Under Administrative Actions, the Commissioners will consider an order that suspends acceptance of applications for mineral exploration permits and mining leases. The Board will also consider an order that creates a new policy on the removal of homeless encampments on county-owned property. As always, there will be Requests and Comments from Citizens in which people are given three minutes to address the Board on just about any topic pertaining to Josephine County. Today's public meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Anne G. Basker Auditorium.

Posted on 10/25/23 5:50AM by Sam Marsh

Oregon Human Services Program Offers Free Help for Medicare Open Enrollment Decisions

Medicare open enrollment for the 2024 year began on October 15th and remains open through December 7th. The Oregon Department of Human Services wants Oregonians to know about free help available when making decisions about coverage including the Oregon Guide to Medicare Insurance Plans. The Senior Health Insurance Benefits Assistance (SHIBA) program within the ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities is available to help Oregon residents understand their Medicare options and benefits, provide enrollment guidance and help people detect and avoid Medicare scams. During open enrollment, people with Medicare can make changes to their health plan or prescription drug plan, pick a Medicare Advantage plan or choose Original Medicare. Oregonians who need help navigating Medicare open enrollment are encouraged to call SHIBA at 1-(800)-722-4134 or learn more by visiting the SHIBA website at "SHIBA.Oregon.gov." The 2024 Oregon Guide to Medicare Insurance Plans will be available on the SHIBA website in the coming days.

Posted on 10/25/23 5:38AM by Sam Marsh

Total Payroll Employment in Josephine County Rose by Estimated 330 Jobs in September

Total payroll employment in Josephine County rose by an estimated 330 jobs in September. According to the Oregon Employment Department, there were 34,593 people working in Josephine County last month for a seasonally adjusted jobless rate of 4.7%. That was the same as in August and down sharply from 6.2% in 2022. Private sector losses totaled 250 jobs while government sector employment gained 580 jobs. All of the government gain was due to seasonally typical increases in local government education totaling 600 jobs. Leisure & hospitality showed the largest decrease in September, down by 170 jobs over the month. Smaller losses were estimated in retail trade, construction, and private education & health services. Over the past year, payroll employment in Josephine County rose by 140 jobs, a gain of 0.5%. Industries adding jobs since September 2022 included private education & health services (+460), other services (+90), professional & business services (+40), and transportation, warehousing & utilities (+30).

Posted on 10/25/23 5:35AM by Sam Marsh

Three Local Arts Organizations Among 28 in Oregon to Get OAC Grants for 2024

Three Southern Oregon arts organizations are among 28 across the state that will each receive a $10,000 grant to strengthen arts education for K-12 students through $280,000 in Oregon Arts Commission program funding for Fiscal Year 2024. All funded projects feature partnerships with Oregon schools within communities throughout the state. Arts Learning grants are designed to support projects that give K-12 students a responsive opportunity for learning in and through the arts; foster the exchange of knowledge between artists and educators; and impact the achievement and/or attitudes of learners. Local OAC grant recipients include the Illinois Valley Community Development Organization of Cave Junction to support weekly sequential dance and theater programming for the current school year in rural Josephine County. In Jackson County, the grant recipients were the Rogue Valley Symphony Association and Rogue World Music -- both in Ashland.

Posted on 10/25/23 5:33AM by Sam Marsh